Chick-fil-A opens in Annandale

Chick-fil-A, the popular chicken sandwich restaurant, opened to the public April 7 on Little River Turnpike in central Annandale.

There’s a two-lane drive-through operation for ordering meals in the back of the restaurant that can handle 55 cars, says franchise owner Eric Brommer. Drivers when go through a pick-up window where meals are delivered from the restaurant via an overhead conveyer belt.

Chicken sandwich meals come with a soft drink and waffle potato fries or kale crunch. Chick-fil-A also offers chicken nuggets and strips, grilled chicken pieces, a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, a chicken wrap, and salads.

Other sides include chicken soup, fruit cup, mac & cheese, and a side salad. There are also milkshakes, lemonade, and brownies. For breakfast, there’s a chicken sandwich in a biscuit; hash brown burrito; bacon, egg, and cheese muffin; and other items.

It’s open Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m., and closed on Sundays. The Sunday closure is a requirement of all Chick-fil-A restaurants. The family-owned company’s late founder, S. Truett Cathy, was a devout Southern Baptist, and his religious beliefs dominate the corporate culture.

The tables in the Annandale restaurant are made from salvaged wood by participants in A Better Way Ministry, a Christian residential program for men struggling with substance abuse and other life-controlling issues.

Before the opening, the restaurant gave 100 coupons for a year’s worth of Chick-fil-A meals to local organizations – including the police and fire departments; Bethany House, which runs shelters for victims of domestic violence, and a pediatrician’s office – to distribute to worthy individuals.

The restaurant, at 7130 Little River Turnpike, replaces a collection of antique shops.

Brommer, who spent nine years working for Chick-fil-A in various capacities, describes his relationship with the company as a partnership. “You feel very well supported by Chick-fil-A,” he says. To secure a franchise, he had to go through a lengthy selection process that included long, rigorous interviews.

The Annandale Chick-fil-A has 167 employees. Other restaurants might have trouble hiring people, Brommer says, but “people want to work here.”